Holder for flexible pouch container

ABSTRACT

A flexible pouch container holder for a flexible pouch container includes a deformable flexible sheet and has an opening in an upper portion of the flexible pouch container, a liquid contained inside the flexible pouch container being discharged through the opening, wherein the holder includes a bottom support portion which supports a bottom of the flexible pouch container; and a peripheral support portion which is higher in rigidity than the flexible pouch container, has elasticity, is open at the top of the peripheral support portion and continuous with the bottom support portion, and surrounds a portion of the flexible pouch container which is positioned below the opening when the bottom of the flexible pouch container is placed on the bottom support portion.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2009/071403, with an international filing date of Dec. 24, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a holder for a flexible pouch container.

BACKGROUND ART

A flexible pouch container which is made of a deformable flexible sheet and in which a liquid such as a beverage or a liquid detergent can be filled is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3,268,537. This flexible pouch container is a so-called stand-pack type, which stands by itself upon the bottom thereof being placed on a flat plate, or the like, and an opening through which the liquid inside the container is discharged is formed at the top of the container.

Manually pressing a lower part of the flexible pouch container causes the liquid pressure of the liquid to increase, thus causing the liquid to be discharged from the top opening.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

When an excessive force is exerted on the flexible pouch container, more than a desired amount of liquid flows out of the opening; however, it is not easy to exert an appropriate pressing force on the flexible pouch container. In the case where a lower part of the flexible pouch container is pressed particularly with a large amount of liquid filled in the flexible pouch container, even when the pressing force exerted on the flexible pouch container becomes slightly greater than an appropriate pressing force, more than a desired amount of liquid flows out of the opening.

In addition, when the flexible pouch container filled with a beverage is stored in a side pocket of a refrigerator, it is sometimes the case that the beverage leaks from the opening when a hard object that is stored in the refrigerator next to the flexible pouch container presses the flexible pouch container.

The present invention provides a holder which is simple in structure, used for a flexible pouch container, which makes it possible to exert an appropriate pressing force on the flexible pouch container and also makes it possible to prevent the liquid inside the container from leaking from the opening of the container even when an unintentional external force is exerted on the holder.

Solution to Problem

A holder for a flexible pouch container according to the present invention is characterized in that the holder is made of resin and used for a flexible pouch container, which is made of a deformable flexible sheet and has an opening in an upper portion of the flexible pouch container, a liquid contained inside the flexible pouch container being discharged through the opening, the holder including a bottom support portion which supports a bottom of the flexible pouch container; and a peripheral support portion which is higher in rigidity than the flexible pouch container, has elasticity, is open at a top of the peripheral support portion and continuous with the bottom support portion, and surrounds a portion of the flexible pouch container which is positioned below the opening when the bottom of the flexible pouch container is placed on the bottom support portion.

The bottom support portion and the peripheral support portion can be made of, e.g., polypropylene.

A through-hole can be formed in an upper part of the peripheral support portion.

The flexible pouch container holder can be composed of a pair of parts which can be connected and disconnected to and from each other.

It is possible for an engaging projection to be formed on one of mutually opposed surfaces of the pair of parts and for an engaging recess in which the engaging projection is engaged to be formed on the other of the mutually opposed surfaces of the pair of parts.

In this case, it is possible for the engaging projection and the engaging recess are formed on portions of the bottom support portions which are opposed to each other, respectively, wherein an engaging hole which is communicatively connected to the engaging recess is formed on a lower surface of the bottom support portion, and an engaging claw, which engages in the engaging hole, is formed on a lower surface of the engaging projection.

It is possible for the pair of parts to each include the engaging projection and the engaging recess and to be mutually identical in shape.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, upon the peripheral support portion of the holder, which surrounds a portion of the flexible pouch container which is positioned below the opening thereof, being pressed, part of this pressing force is absorbed by the peripheral support portion while the remaining pressing force extends to a side of the flexible pouch container, and accordingly, the possibility of an excessive pressing force being exerted on the flexible pouch container is small. Therefore, even in the case where the flexible pouch container is filled with a large amount of liquid, a desired amount of liquid can be discharged from the opening.

In addition, if, for example, the flexible pouch container filled with a beverage is stored in a side pocket of a refrigerator and even if a hard object stored adjacent to the flexible pouch container in the refrigerator abuts against and presses the flexible pouch container, the possibility of the beverage leaking from the opening is small because the abutting force is absorbed by the peripheral support portion of the holder.

According to the structure claimed in claim 2, the holder can be manufactured at a low cost.

According to the structure claimed in claim 3, the liquid can be discharged from the opening of the flexible pouch container by directly pressing the flexible pouch container through the through-hole of the holder. Moreover, when an upper part of the flexible pouch container is pressed, it is generally the case that a desired amount of liquid is discharged from the opening even if the pressing force exerted on the flexible pouch container is somewhat strong, so that the possibility of more than a desired amount of liquid being discharged from the opening is small.

According to the structure claimed in claim 4, the holder can be easily attached to the flexible pouch container even in the case where the distance between the upper ends of the pair of parts, when the pair of parts are put together, is smaller than the maximum width of the flexible pouch container.

According to the structure claimed in claim 5, the pair of parts can be easily put together.

According to the structure claimed in claim 6, the engaging projection can be effectively prevented from coming out of the engaging recess.

According to the structure claimed in claim 7, the bonding strength between the pair of parts can be enhanced.

Moreover, the pair of parts can be of the same type since the pair of parts are mutually identical in shape. Accordingly, is possible to reduce the production cost of the holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 (a) is a front view of a flexible pouch container to which an embodiment of a holder according to the present invention is to be attached, and FIG. 1 (b) is a bottom view of the flexible pouch container;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a pair of parts of the holder and the flexible pouch container in a mutually separated state;

FIG. 3 is a front view of one part;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one part;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the holder that is completed by putting the pair of parts together;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the same holder;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the flexible pouch container and the holder with the holder attached to the flexible pouch container;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the flexible pouch container and the holder when the holder attached to the flexible pouch container is deformed by pressing the holder by hand;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the same flexible pouch container and holder when the holder is pressed by hand, wherein the hand is omitted;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the flexible pouch container and the holder when an upper part of the flexible pouch container is directly pressed by a finger/thumb through a through-hole of the holder;

FIG. 11 is a front view similar to that of FIG. 3, showing a modified embodiment of a part;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the part;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the part;

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the holder; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV shown in FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a flexible pouch container 20 that is an object to be attached to a holder 10 of the present invention. The flexible pouch container 20 is made of an elastic (deformable) flexible sheet which is made by laminating a polyester film or the like onto the outer surface of a plastic film having a thermobondability such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and an internal space 21 of the flexible pouch container 20 is filled with a liquid A (e.g., a beverage such as juice, a liquid seasoning, or a liquid detergent such as shampoo). As shown in the drawings, a circumferential mounting portion 23 extends downward from the outer edge of a bottom face portion 22 of the flexible pouch container 20. The circumferential mounting portion 23 is short in length (vertical length), thus being higher in rigidity than a portion of the flexible pouch container 20 from above the circumferential mounting port ion 23. Accordingly, the flexible pouch container 20 stands by itself upon the bottom surface of the circumferential mounting portion 23 being placed on a level surface. Hence, the present embodiment of the flexible pouch container 20 is a so-called stand-pack type.

In addition, the flexible pouch container 20 is provided, on a side thereof in the vicinity of the upper end of the flexible pouch container 20, with a discharge projection 24 which projects laterally from the body of the flexible pouch container 20, and the internal space of the discharge projection 24 is communicatively connected with the internal space 21 of the body of the flexible pouch container 20. Although the end of the discharge projection 24 is closed, perforations 25 are formed in a middle part of the discharge projection 24 as shown in FIG. 1, and accordingly, tearing off the middle part of the discharge projection 24 along the perforations 25 causes the torn-off surface of the discharge projection 24 to become an opening 26 (see FIGS. 8 and 10). The discharge projection 24 of the present embodiment closes the opening 26 by its own elastic force (restoring force which returns the shape of the discharge projection 24 to its initial shape) when no external force is applied to the discharge projection 24. Note that it is possible to put a cap (not shown in the drawings) on the opening 26 in a removable manner or to form a snap fastener at the opening 26.

As shown in the drawings, since the flexible pouch container 20 is viewed from a side thereof with the internal space 21 filled with the liquid A to the maximum, the shape of a portion of the flexible pouch container 20 which ranges from the bottom end to an intermediate portion (portion positioned slightly below the upper end) of the flexible pouch container 20 in the vertical direction is uniform (the width of the same portion in the forward/rearward direction is constant); however, the portion from the intermediate portion above is in the shape of a substantially isosceles triangle (the width of which decreases in the upward direction).

The holder 10 of the present embodiment is configured of a pair of parts 11 which are mutually identical in shape (have a symmetrical shape).

The pair of parts 11 are integrally molded parts made of polypropylene which are each provided with a bottom support portion 12 in the shape of a semicircular flat plate and a peripheral support portion 13 which extends upward while curving from an outer edge of the bottom support portion 12. The bottom support portion 12 and the peripheral support portion 13 are elastically deformable. In addition, the bottom support portion 12 is greater in thickness than the peripheral support portion 13, so that the bottom support portion 12 is greater in rigidity than the peripheral support portion 13 while the peripheral support portion 13 is greater in rigidity than the flexible pouch container 20 (including the circumferential mounting portion 23). A pair of semispherical projections 14 project from the bottom of the bottom support portion 12. The pair of parts 11 are provided, on lower halves of mutually opposed surfaces of the bottom support portions 12, with engaging projections 15, respectively, each of which is rectangular in plan view and trapezoidal in cross section. The thickness of the engaging projections 15 is approximately a half of the thickness of the bottom support portion 12, and the engaging projections 15 are parallel to the bottom support portion 12. In addition, the bottom support portion 12 is provided on a lower surface thereof with an engaging recess 16 which is recessed adjacent to the engaging projection 15 and has the same shape as the engaging projection 15. Additionally, a through-hole 17 having a circular shape in a front view is formed through an upper part of the peripheral support portion 13.

To attach the holder 10 (the pair of parts 11) to the flexible pouch container 20, the engaging projection 15 and the engaging recess 16 of one of the parts 11 are made to face the engaging recess 16 and the engaging projection 15 of the other part 11, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2, and then the parts 11 are brought close to each other so that the clearance between the mutually opposed surfaces of the bottom support portions 12 becomes smaller than the width of a lower part (the circumferential mounting portion 23) of the flexible pouch container 20 in the forward/rearward direction. Subsequently, the lower part of the flexible pouch container 20 is inserted in between the pair of peripheral support portions 13 from above through the clearance that is formed between the upper ends of the pair of peripheral support portions 13 (at this time the distance between the upper ends of the pair of peripheral support portions 13 in the forward/rearward direction is greater than the width of the lower part of the flexible pouch container 20 in the forward/rearward direction) to place the circumferential mounting portion 23 on the upper surfaces of the pair of bottom support portions 12. Subsequently, the pair of parts 11 are coupled to each other (integrated) by moving the pair of parts 11 linearly in directions to approach each other to make mutually opposed surfaces of the bottom support portions 12 come in contact with each other and to make each engaging projection 15 fit into the associated engaging recess 16. Thereupon, the circumferential mounting portion 23 of the flexible pouch container 20 is placed on the upper surfaces of the bottom support portions 12, and the periphery of a lower half of the flexible pouch container 20 is surrounded by the pair of peripheral support portions 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, since the engaging projection 15 and the engaging recess 16 of each part 11 are in the shape of a trapezoid in front shape (cross sectional shape) in which the upper end is wider than the lower end, each engaging projection 15 which is engaged in the associated engaging recess 16 does not come out therefrom downwardly; in addition, since the top of each engaging recess 16 is closed, each engaging projection 15 which is engaged in the associated engaging recess 16 does not come out therefrom upwardly either. Additionally, the upper surfaces of the bottom support portions 12 of the pair of parts 11 are continuous with each other, whereas clearances 18 are formed between side ends of the pair of peripheral support portions 13, so that both the left and right sides of the flexible pouch container 20 project sideways from the holder 10 through the left and right clearances 18, respectively.

The holder 10 in a completed state, to which the flexible pouch container 20 has been attached in the aforementioned manner, can be placed on a horizontal plate in an upright position by placing the four semispherical projections 14 on the horizontal plate.

In addition, the width in the forward/rearward direction of a lower half of the flexible pouch container 20 (a portion thereof which is greater in width than the upper part of the flexible pouch container 20 as viewed from a side thereof) in a state before being inserted in between the pair of peripheral support portions 13 is broader than the width in the forward/rearward direction of the upper end opening of the holder 10 which has been assembled, and accordingly, the upper ends of the pair of parts 11 slightly press (dent) the corresponding portions of the flexible pouch container 20 on both the front and rear sides thereof. This causes a contact pressure to be exerted on the upper ends of the parts 11 from the aforementioned corresponding portions of the flexible pouch container 20 via the liquid pressure of the liquid A inside the flexible pouch container 20, and accordingly, if one holds and lifts an upper part of the flexible pouch container 20, the holder 10 also moves upward with the flexible pouch container 20.

If each engaging projection 15 is disengaged from the associated engaging recess 16 by linearly moving the pair of parts 11 in directions away from each other, the parts 11 can be separated from each other to be removed from the flexible pouch container 20.

For instance, if the liquid A is a beverage that completely fills the internal space 21, and if one desires to pour a desired amount of the beverage A into a glass, not shown in the drawings, from the opening 26 of the flexible pouch container 20, he or she holds part of the pair of peripheral support portions 13 below the through-holes 17 by one hand as shown in FIG. 8 and presses the aforementioned part of the pair of peripheral support portions 13 in directions to approach each other. Thereupon, the peripheral support portions 13 are partly dented as shown in FIG. 9, which causes the manual pressing force to be partly absorbed by the peripheral support portions 13 and causes the remaining pressing force to extend to a lower half of the flexible pouch container 20 from the dented portions of the peripheral support portions 13. Therefore, even if the pressing force applied to the peripheral support portions 13 is somewhat large, no excessive pressing force extends to the flexible pouch container 20, which makes it possible to pour a desired amount of the beverage A into a glass from the opening 26.

In addition, with a finger/thumb inserted into the through-hole 17 of a peripheral support portion 13, an upper part of the flexible pouch container 20 can be directly pressed by the finger/thumb. Pressing the flexible pouch container 20 in this manner causes part of the beverage A which faces the through-hole 17 in the flexible pouch container 20 to increase, so that the beverage A can be poured into a glass from the opening 26. Since the upper ends of the pair of parts 11 have dented both the front and rear sides of the flexible pouch container 20 as described above, the width of a portion of the flexible pouch container 20 in the forward/rearward direction which is positioned immediately below the dented portion that faces the through-holes 17 is smaller than the width of a lower part of the flexible pouch container 20 (which corresponds to the pressed portion in FIGS. 8 and 9) in the forward/rearward direction. When a portion of the flexible pouch container 20 which is smaller in width in the forward/rearward direction than the lower part of the flexible pouch container 20 is pressed in such a manner, a desired amount of the beverage A is discharged from the opening 26 even if the pressing force is somewhat great, so that also in this manner a desired amount of the beverage A can be poured into a glass.

In addition, when the flexible pouch container 20 with the holder 10 is stored in a side pocket of a refrigerator so that each semispherical projection 14 is placed on the bottom plate of the side pocket, even if another object, which is hard, (e.g., a PET bottle or a glass bottle) stored next to the flexible pouch container 20 with the holder 10 in the refrigerator abuts against the holder 10 (the peripheral support portions 13), this abutting force is absorbed by the peripheral support portions 13, so that the possibility of the beverage A in the flexible pouch container 20 leaking from the opening 26 is small.

As described above, if the present embodiment of the holder 10 is attached to the flexible pouch container 20, such effects are obtained.

In addition, since the present embodiment of the holder 10 is made of polypropylene, the holder 10 can be produced at a low cost.

Additionally, since the present embodiment of the holder 10 is configured of the pair of parts 11 that are mutually identical in shape (symmetrical shape), the pair of parts 11 can be of one type. Therefore, the production cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the holder 10 is composed of two types of parts having different shapes.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above illustrated embodiment, it is possible to make various modifications to the above illustrated embodiment.

For instance, the present invention can be embodied as a modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 through 15 (elements thereof which are identical to those of the above illustrated embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals).

The basic structure of this holder 30 (including the material thereof) is to the same as that of the holder 10, configured of a pair of parts 31 which are mutually identical in shape (symmetrical shape). The pair of parts 31 are each provided with a bottom support portion 12 and a peripheral support portion 13.

The bottom support portion 12 is provided on a lower surface thereof with a pair of linear projections 32 that are members which come into contact with a horizontal plate when the holder 30 is placed thereon.

The pair of parts 31 are provided on mutually opposed surfaces of the bottom support portions 12 with engaging projections 33, respectively, which are thinner than the bottom support portions 12 and each of which is trapezoidal in plan view, and the pair of parts 31 are provided, on lower surfaces of the engaging projections 33 in the vicinity of the ends thereof, with engaging claws 34, each of which is rectangular in plan view. As shown in FIG. 15, each engaging claw 34 is triangular in cross section, and the amount of projection of each engaging claw 34 gradually increases downwardly in a direction toward the bottom support portion 12 from the end of the engaging claw 34. On the other hand, the pair of parts 31 are provided on mutually opposed surfaces of the bottom support portions 12 with engaging recesses 35 that are adjacent to the engaging projections 33 and have the same shape as the engaging projections 33, respectively. In addition, engaging holes 36 which have the same shape in plan view as the engaging claws 34 and are communicatively connected to the engaging recesses 35 are formed in portions of lower surfaces of the bottom support portions 12 which are positioned immediately below the engaging recesses 35, respectively.

Additionally, each bottom support portion 12 is provided, on a lower surface thereof on one lateral side of one linear projection 32, with a bottom lug 37, an end of which projects from the aforementioned opposed surface of the bottom support portion 12. The amount of projection of the bottom lugs 37 in the downward direction is smaller than that of the linear projections 32.

Similar to the parts 11 of the holder 10, the pair of parts 31 are coupled to each other (integrated) by making mutually opposed surfaces of the bottom support portions 12 come in contact with each other upon facing the engaging projections 33 and the engaging recesses 35 towards each other. Once the engaging projections 33 are fitted into the opposed engaging recesses 35, the engaging claws 34 are engaged in the engaging holes 36, respectively, and accordingly, the parts 31 do not separate from each other unless the engaging claws 34 are intentionally disengaged from the engaging holes 36. Additionally, once the parts 31 are connected to each other, the end of the bottom lug 37 of each part 31 comes in contact with a lower surface of the bottom support portion 12 of the other part 31 to thereby increase the frictional resistance between the pair of parts 31, which makes it more difficult for the parts 31 to separate from each other.

In addition, the material of the holders 10 and 30 is not limited to the above described material and can be molded of a resin material other than polypropylene as long as the peripheral support portions 13 are greater in rigidity than the flexible pouch container 20.

Additionally, the holders 10 and 30 can each be formed as an integral object consisting of a single member or be configured from three or more parts. Additionally, in either case where the holders 10 and 30 are formed as an integral object or configured from a plurality of parts, the peripheral support portions 13 can be shaped like a ring in plan view.

Additionally, in the case where a lower half of the flexible pouch container 20 is smaller in width in the forward/rearward direction than the upper end opening of the assembled holder 10 or 30, the flexible pouch container 20 can be inserted into the inside of the holder 10 or 30 after assembling of the holder 10 or 30.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The holder according to the present invention is usable as a holder for a flexible pouch container and capable of exerting an appropriate pressing force on the flexible pouch container, and can prevent the liquid inside the container from leaking from the opening of the container even if an unintentional external force is exerted on the holder.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 Holder -   11 Part -   12 Bottom support portion -   13 Peripheral support portion -   14 Semispherical projection -   15 Engaging projection -   16 Engaging recess -   17 Through-hole -   18 Clearance -   20 Flexible pouch container -   21 Internal space -   22 Bottom face portion -   23 Circumferential mounting portion -   24 Discharge projection -   25 Perforations -   26 Opening -   30 Holder -   31 Part -   32 Linear projection -   33 Engaging projection -   34 Engaging claw -   35 Engaging recess -   36 Engaging hole -   37 Bottom lug -   A Liquid

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.     3,268,537 

1. A flexible pouch container holder in which the holder is made of resin and used for a flexible pouch container, which is made of a deformable flexible sheet and has an opening in an upper portion of said flexible pouch container, a liquid contained inside said flexible pouch container being discharged through said opening, said holder comprising: a bottom support portion which supports a bottom of said flexible pouch container; and a peripheral support portion which is higher in rigidity than said flexible pouch container, has elasticity, is open at a top of said peripheral support portion, gradually decreases an inner diameter thereof in an upward direction, is continuous with said bottom support portion, surrounds a portion of said flexible pouch container which is positioned below said opening when a bottom of said flexible pouch container is placed on said bottom support portion, and has two or more clearances which extend from a top end to a bottom end of said peripheral support portion.
 2. The flexible pouch container holder according to claim 1, wherein said bottom support portion and said peripheral support portion are made of polypropylene.
 3. The flexible pouch container holder according to claim 1, wherein a through-hole is formed in an upper part of said peripheral support portion.
 4. The flexible pouch container holder according to claim 1, wherein said flexible pouch container holder is composed of a pair of parts which can be connected and disconnected to and from each other.
 5. The flexible pouch container holder according to claim 4, wherein an engaging projection is formed on one of mutually opposed surfaces of said pair of parts, and wherein an engaging recess in which said engaging projection is engaged is formed on the other of said mutually opposed surfaces of said pair of parts.
 6. The flexible pouch container holder according to claim 5, wherein said engaging projection and said engaging recess are formed on portions of said bottom support portions which are opposed to each other, respectively, wherein an engaging hole which is communicatively connected to said engaging recess is formed on a lower surface of said bottom support portion, and wherein an engaging claw, which engages in said engaging hole, is formed on a lower surface of said engaging projection.
 7. The flexible pouch container holder according to claim 5, wherein said pair of parts each comprise said engaging projection and said engaging recess and are mutually identical in shape.
 8. The flexible pouch container holder according to claim 6, wherein said pair of parts each comprise said engaging projection and said engaging recess and are mutually identical in shape. 